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Google opens up Chrome's RLZ library

An RLZ parameter broken down
Source: Google
Google, in an attempt to be more open about its tracking mechanisms, has announced that it has open sourced the RLZ library that is built-in to the Chrome browser. RLZ, a previously closed component of the open source based browser, is responsible for generating promotional tokens which are non-unique and not personally identifiable. The tokens are used by Google as a parameter in URLs to, for example, track search queries to Google made from Chrome. The Apache 2.0 licensed RLZ library now has its own Google Code project, where the details of the RLZ parameter are also explained.

According to the announcement, Chromium will continue not to include the RLZ library, but "promotional" distributions of Google Chrome will now include the open source version of the RLZ library. The move is described by Google as "just a small step" in providing better transparency in the company's operations which have often come under fire from privacy advocates.